I'm trying to figure out how this whole calculation stuff works.

I'm trying to figure out how this whole calculation stuff works. Can someone help me

Inside of this guide you can find how to perform form calculation using a widget:

How to Perform Form Calculation Using a Widget

Calculation values can be assigned to dropdown, single choice (radio button) and multiple choice (check box) field.

If you have difficulties with setting calculation inside of your form, please provide us ID of the form you are working on and provide us details about calculation that you are trying to perform.

Let us know if you need further assistance. 

Reading the instructions on form calculations is quite confusing.
What I am trying to do is (please look at link below- these are just dummy question not the ones we will be using on real form). https://www.jotform.com/build/71153959129160
We want to ask our clients a question. Each answer is tied to a number (for calculations purposes). After they choose an option/answer then that number along with the numbers from the other questions get totaled on the bottom so that we can give them a score.
How do I go about setting this up?
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Lets say that first option is 1 point, second option 2 points and third option 3 points, for all of the fields on your demo form. In this case you would need to set your Calculation values for each field like this. 

Total field should be Form Calculation widget and calculation should be set like this.

Here is my demo form: https://form.jotformpro.com/71166728072963 

Feel free to test it and clone it.

Hope this will help. Let us know if you need further assistance. 

Below is the form of questions I am trying to use.
However, if you look at the first two questions (that I set up) and sampled.for the 
1 year question I chose very positive which should equal 1 point5 year question I chose somewhat positive which should equal 2 points10 year question I chose not positive which should equal 3 points
then for the second question: I chose the second option which should equal 2 points.
for a total of 8 but it gives me a score of 34.
Please advise? Help?
https://www.jotform.com/build/71174679729168
...

I have inspected your form and there are two issues.

1. Inside of Form calculation field, you have not added plus sign "+" between third and forth field. You should set your calculation like this. 

2. Inside of Check Box field first calculation value is 0 and should be 1. 0 should be added as first option only for calculation values that are assigned to dropdown fields, because first option is blank/empty.

Calculation values for your Check Box field should look like this.

Here is my demo form: https://form.jotformpro.com/71175811972965 

Feel free to test it and clone it.

Let us know if you need further assistance.